Hbj Drops Texas Park Plan

June 19, 1986|By Vicki Vaughan of The Sentinel Staff

Orlando publisher Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Inc., owner of Sea World theme parks, has decided not to build a water-thrill park as part of its planned Sea World of Texas in San Antonio, company officials said this week.

Jack O. Snyder, HBJ executive vice president, said that his company's lack of experience in building water-thrill parks, as well as a tripling in the cost of liability insurance during the past year, were two of the factors in its decision to cancel the water-park plan.

HBJ said, though, that it is continuing with the construction of Sea World of Texas, a 287-acre marine theme park on a 538-acre site northwest of San Antonio in central Texas.

HBJ has revised estimates of the cost of the Texas theme park, saying that it plans to spend $140 million instead of the $100 million originally announced.

Sea World of Texas, a 287-acre marine theme park on a 538-acre site northwest of San Antonio in central Texas.

HBJ has revised estimates of the cost of the Texas theme park, saying that it plans to spend $140 million instead of the $100 million originally announced.

Sea World of Texas, to open on Memorial Day 1988, is expected to employ more than 2,000 and to draw about 3 million tourists annually.